Iran Threatens Legal Action Against Sinokor Vessels Over Strait of Hormuz Violations

Iran’s Arabian Gulf Strait Authority has warned that all vessels belonging to South Korean shipping company Sinokor will face legal action from November 1, citing alleged violations of transit rules in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

The authority, established by Tehran to manage passage requests through the waterway, said on Tuesday that Sinokor-linked vessels had recorded the highest number of crossing violations over the past three months. It added that appropriate action had already been taken against at least seven vessels.

The warning comes as Iran seeks greater control over the Strait of Hormuz following US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28. Tehran has restricted maritime traffic in an apparent effort to gain leverage over Washington, disrupting oil shipments from Gulf producers to international markets, particularly in Asia.

However, the Korea Shipowners’ Association said on Wednesday that the vessels concerned were not owned by Sinokor but had been sub-chartered to an overseas oil company. It added that no South Korean crew members were aboard the ships, which were operated entirely by foreign seafarers.

The association said it had verified the information with a Sinokor official. According to the association, Sinokor was unaware of the authority’s separate warning of legal action and was investigating the matter.

In August, Iran included Sinokor-owned vessels on a list of 45 tankers it accused of violating its rules for crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the United States has imposed a naval blockade targeting ships linked to Iran in response to Iranian attacks. The restrictions have severely curtailed Iranian exports, while Gulf oil producers have increasingly relied on so-called “dark transits” to maintain shipments.

During these voyages, tankers switch off their tracking systems to reduce their visibility, helping operators move oil despite heightened security risks and restrictions in the strategic waterway.